"This methane strategy is one component, one set of actions the administration is going to take to get there," said Dan Utech, a top White House adviser to Obama for energy and climate change.

The plan outlined on Friday aims to cut methane emissions from landfills, coal mining, agriculture, and oil and gas systems through new rules and voluntary action by industry.

Among the specific actions outlined by the administration:

This summer the EPA will formally call for updated standards to reduce methane from new landfills. The administration also says it wants to solicit public comment on whether to update standards for existing landfills.

Next month, the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management will propose developing a program for the capture and sale or disposal of waste mine methane on land leased by the U.S. government.

In June, the federal government will launch a "Biogas roadmap" partnership with the dairy industry. Through voluntary actions, the administration aims to reduce U.S. dairy sector greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020.

The administration is also floating new regulation and voluntary action for the oil and gas industry. The EPA will soon solicit input from independent experts through a series of technical white papers that could lead to development of additional regulations that would be implemented by the end of 2016. The Bureau of Land Management will also propose updated standards later this year targeting venting and flaring from oil and gas production on public lands

Emissions from methane account for nearly 9% of all greenhouse gas emitted as a result of human activity in the USA. Methane pollution has declined by 11% since 1990 even as the U.S. government has pushed for a greater reliance on natural gas.

But longer view on methane pollution is not as bright. The Obama administration points to studies that show that methane pollution is projected to increase to a level equivalent to over 620 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution in 2030, if no action is take to reduce methane emissions.